Vote postponed on wildfire bill

The Center Square) – Members of Congress debated a bill on Tuesday that would change how the federal government handles air quality monitoring influenced by wildfire mitigation. House Resolution 6387, known as the FIRE Act, is sponsored by U.S. Reps. Gabe Evans, R-Colorado, and Adam Gray, D-California. The legislation would revise regulations under the Clean Air Act “governing the review and handling of air quality monitoring data influenced by exceptional events or actions to mitigate wildfire risk.” The House's vote on the bill was postponed to Wednesday following Tuesday's discussion on the floor. Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Ala., said the bill would mean states wouldn’t be penalized for wildfire mitigation efforts such as prescribed or controlled burns. “States currently limit these practices for fear of falling out of attainment with national air quality standards,” he said on the floor. “Unlike wildfires, prescribed burns do